Table and lunch case



2 Sheets-Sheet 1;

(No Model.)

J. M. EASE. PORTABLE RAILROAD DINING TABLE AND LUNCH CASE.

Patented Apr. 17,1883.

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J'. M. CASE. PORTABLE RAILROAD DINING TABLE AND LUNCH CASE. No. 275,991,

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Wifinesse UNITED STATES PATENT 15'FFICE.

JOHN M. CASE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. M.

' KURTZ, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE RAILROAD DINING-TABLE AND LUNCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,991, dated April 17, 1883.

Application filed September 20, 1882. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoHN M. GAsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Railroad Dining-Tables and Lunch-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device or apparatus to promote comfort of passengers by rail and it consists in the provision ofa closed receptacle for containing food, with the necessary dishes and appliances, the receptacle being constructed to hang on the back of a seat and in front of the passenger, and its door arranged to let down to constitute a table.

My invention is designed to obviate the necessity of passengers leaving the trains or passing from one car to another to procure their meals. It thus overcomes serious objections to the present system-to wit, delay of trains for an hour (more or less) out of the twenty-four, danger, inconvenience, and haste and loss of seats or of small baggage, clothing, and other articles to which passengers are subjected in leaving the train for meals, or the danger and inconvenience attending the passing from car to car, where restaurant-cars are employed.

By my invention an apparatus is provided in which a full and comfortable meal can be served to any passenger desiring it Without requiring him to leave his seat.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the interior of a railway-car illustrating my invention, one,

of my meal-receptacles and dining-tables being shown open and one closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of one of the said meal receptacles and tables on a larger scale.

The case A may be made of sheet metal or other material, and is provided on its back with hooks B B, to engage in suitable sockets, 8, prepared therefor in the seat-back S.

D represents a door hinged at (l by its lower edge to the bottom of the case, and supported by suitable slide-braces, E, confined by loops or straps F, so that when the said door D is lowered to a horizontal position it I will be supported flush, or nearly so, with the bottom of the case A, forming a convenient and ample table. A spring-catch, G, or other suitable fastening, serves to hold the door in its closed position.

Within the case are any desirable number ofshelves, H, which, in addition to the lower compartment of the case, are adapted to receive dishes and food, drinking-vessels, and all necessary utensils and appliances for (lining.

The handle N at the top of the case adapts it to be readily removed from its position of use and carried in the hand to and from the kitchen, which may be in'the baggage-car or other suitable part of the train for the preparation of meals.

The closing of the door will be seen to keep the food and beverages entirely from exposure to dust or air.

In practice, bills of fare and order-cards will be stuck in the bible-boxes or other convenient place for the use of passengers, the filled order-card being placed where it will be seen and taken by attendants, who return with a m cal-case supplied with the order given, bills of fare being placed in the same manner within convenient reach vof the passengers for their use.

The cases or receptacles are made of the triangular shape represented, so as to accommodate larger dishes at bottom and smaller dishes and other utensils above; also to bring the greater portion of the weight in the lower part of the receptacle, and, further, to adapt it to conform to the shape and position of the inclined back of the car-seat, resting firmly against the same, while standing in convenient position perpendicularly in front of the user.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A portable combined meal case and table attachment for seat-backs, as set forth.

2. A combined meal case and table having hooks B, by which it can be hung on the back of a chair, as set forth.

3. A combined meal case and table of approximately triangular shape in cross-section,

the back of the case conforming to the inclined back of a chair, and the table portion adapted having hooks B B, in combination with a seatto be swung out and. held rigidly in horizontal back, S, having holes 8 s, for receiving the [0 position, as set forth.l (1 b1 1 d hooks, as set forth.

4. Acombined mea case an ta eprovic o 1 5 with falling door D and braces E, for holding JOHN CASE the door in horizontal position to form a table, Witnesses: as set forth. OTWAY WATSON,

5. A portable combined meal case and table WILLIAM M. KURTZ. 

